History

The first Cook Islands church service in Cairns was held in 1992. Some of the members at that time was Mr. Mahuta Tai the assistant minister of the Ekalesia today, and Mr. Ruhau Isaia the secretary of the Ekalesia today. Some of the CICC Ministers who visited the area at the time were the Rev. Ivirangi Ben Marsters and Rev. Singapu Faireka

In 1996 Rev. Uzziah Taruia began worshipping with the local Cook Islanders in Cairns. On 5 May 1997 the first CICC service was held in the Uniting Church in Westcourt, one of the suburbs of Cairns. This was then known as the Westcourt Ekalesia. The Ekalesia then registered itself with the Queensland Government on 16 July 1998, the registered name being the “Cairns Cook Islands Christian Church Association Incorporated”. The reason for registering was that the members decided to start a building project for a church and a hall. The Rev. Rakoroa Taia was ordained as a minister in 2002 and became the minister of the Ekalesia after the retirement of Rev. Uzziah Taruia in 2003. Rev. Taia served in the Westcourt Ekalesia until 2007 when he was rotated to the Balaclava Ekalesia

At the start of 2006 the Ekalesia negotiated with the builder Glenwood Homes to build a church and hall. The opening of the church (known as Ziona) and the hall (called Lady Penrhyn), was conducted by the CICC President, Rev. Tangimetua Tangatatutai, on 23 December 2006. The Ekalesia is now known as Mt Sheridan Ekalesia, the name of the suburb where the Ekalesia is located. Rev. David Teaurere is the minister of the Ekalesia from 2007 until now.

Administration

Management in the church comprises the Minister as chairperson for all meetings except departmental ones. The overall administrator is the Secretary, assisted by the Assistant Secretary and the Deacon‘s meeting. The Treasurer looks after the church’s finances and reports regularly to church meetings and the monthly Deacons meetings. The church follows the TOR for the CICC which is contained in the CICC Manual

Departments

There are 4 departments; Deacons Meeting, Sunday School, Women’s Fellowship, and Christian Youth. Each department has its own regular programs and activities which, except for the first, are linked to those at the national level

Meetings

All departments hold regular individual meetings to monitor the progress of their own programs. The parish as a whole has a combined meeting at the end of every 3 months. In these quarterly meetings, developments in each of the departments are reported, as well as reports from the Minister, Secretary, Treasurer, and the Deacon’s group. Irregular meetings are also convened as and when the need arises

Protocols

Religion is very much a way of life for most Cook Islanders irrespective of their denomination. Church-goers cherish this a lot and portray it in the way they dress and attend services. On communionSunday, men wear white suits and women wear white dresses. During the actual services, the following are observed:• Quietness at all times unless part-taking in the hymns• No cameras & video are to be used inside the church• Mobile phones are to be turned off• Casual wear (singlets, shorts, etc.) is not preferred• Ziona (Church Building) has its own set of rules including the above listed. These rules are read out to the congregation on the first Sunday in February each year and are strictly adhered to and enforced by the Deacons. The rules are required in order that the services in Ziona are holy and everyone is focused on respect and worship of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

Sermons

The CICC follows the Scripture Union Bible Reading Plan which sets out daily scripture readings. It is quite common for all services to be based on the day’s reading. Sermons are conducted in the local language (Cook Is Maori), unless visitors are present in which case the Minister makes a brief translation of his message in English. No other foreign language is used.

Sermons are prepared and presented by the Minister, Assistant Minister and any visiting Minister or Assistant Minister from outside the Ekalesia. Deacons and fully ordained members of the church are utilized during the Pre-Sermon (or “Tiaki Kaingakai”). Only men are allowed to conduct the combined services

Regular Church Services

Normal church services are as follows:

Early service (tiaki kaingakai): 11:30 am

Sunday main service: 12:30pm

Other/special services include the following:

Pre-Easter (Holy communion for the entire church members) held every Thursday evening (7:00pm) before Good Friday

Friday: 11:30am (Clothing Black)

Easter Sunday: 11:30 am / 12:30 pm (Clothing white)

Christmas Eve: 11:00 pm

Christmas Day: 11:30 am

New Y ears Eve: 11:00 pm

New Y ears Day: 11:30 am

NY 1st Week (Pure Ebedoma): 05:30 pm (Mon - Fri)

Weddings: 11:00 am (Saturdays)

Funeral Service:11:00 am (as required)

Order of Sunday Main Service

The order of the main service (12.30pm Sundays) is as follow:• Notices and announcements• Offering and its dedication• Invocation• Sunday School hymn (imene Apii Sabati)• Prayer of confession/Lord’s prayer• Bible Reading• Traditional hymn (himene tumu)• Bible Reading• Prayer of Thanksgiving/intercession• Traditional hymn• Sermon• Sunday School hymn• V esper

A normal service of the above order runs for about an hour, with the actual sermon taking from 15-25 minutes. Variations of the above order happen during special services. Functions and ceremonies are also held in the church, for example baptism, marriage, bereavement service

Seating

Seating is arranged in 3 rows, with the Sunday School taking up the front half of the seating. The back half is made up of two groups in the Ekalesia, one on each side and the middle row are for visitors

Other Information

Mt. Sheridan Ekalesia is a member of the CICC of Australia Church Council and participates in all programs and activities organized by this council. The Ekalesia is also a member of the North Queensland Church Council, with Townsville and Balaclava Ekalesias the other members. Furthermore, it complies with the resolutions passed by the CICC General Assembly. It has 3 properties (refer to the below pictures) ; Church Building (Ziona), Hall (Lady Penrhyn) and the minister’s residence (Peura). There is also a bell tower in the middle of Ziona and Lady Penrhyn, called “Peniela .”

The Lady Penrhyn Hall is used by the entire Cook Islands Community in Cairns for birthdays, marriages, hosting visiting churches and other church activities. Important visitors hosted by the hall in recent times include; visit by the former Cook Islands Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Dr Terepai Maoate, Prime Minister Hon. Jim Marurai, and the Cook Islands Rugby League team that defeated the Samoan Rugby League team when they played in Cairns in 2010.

The Ekalesia paid off its bank loan in October 2012 and is now debt free.

Contact for more Information

Reverend: David Teaurere

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tel: +61 7 4036 0503

A/Secretary, Treasurer: Dane Rasmussen

Phone: (617) 4036 2686Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.